How many rounds on a new gun?

[Just4fun]

Just curious as to how many rounds I shoot on a brand new gun before getting serious about working up a load?
i know a barrel will speed up and just wondering what is the best approach to this.
Thank you

 

[Rob01]

Usually about 150-200 rounds will do it but I usually start working on a load after about 100. No set number and not all barrels speed up.

 

[Bc'z]

Keeping a load tuned is a never ending work in progress, might as well start from the beginning.

 

[Bill Norris]

Keeping a load tuned is a never ending work in progress, might as well start from the beginning.

Different days with different atmospheric conditions may cause the tuner to be adjusted at least minimally at 100 yds.

 

[Sandstorm]

I shot a match fireforming with less than 100 rounds on the barrel, and it was
very competitive ....I dont waste any time or components.
Its what's always worked for me ....sometimes you need to fine tune a bit

 

[chromatica]

Just curious as to how many rounds I shoot on a brand new gun before getting serious about working up a load?
i know a barrel will speed up and just wondering what is the best approach to this.
Thank you

I attended an Applied Ballistics webinar where someone asked that question. Bryan Litz said he doesn't start load development until a barrel has 100 rounds down the tube.

 

[Just4fun]

Thank you this helps a lot.
All good information

 

[garandman]

My builder told me... "once the bbl gets up to speed".... about 50 - 60 rounds.

 

[JEFFPPC]

The theory is to let it get up to speed. But too not use those first rounds to be productive maybe seeing what powder or maybe bullet seems to be wasted rounds that could have been productive down the road. That get to speed falls under fine tuning in my mind.

 

[mgunderson]

Depends on the caliber and barrel maker. Seating depth will typically be good within 10 to 20 shots, but speed and final powder charge take 75 to 200.

 

[Damfino]

Last August 14th took a Krieger barreled 6.5X47L with 35 rounds on it to the AEDC Tullahoma mid-range match and shot a 591-32X with virgin brass. According to the E target velocity info the barrel was very consistent throughout all 3 relays, averaging 1987, 1976, and 1984. Just my experience and yours may vary. I wouldn't have done it but didn't have any thing else really available.

 

[Cloudchaser]

Along these same lines, does it take longer, or more rounds to break in a stainless barrel?

 

[RegionRat]

The answers are a little like “it depends”….

How many different answers there are depends on how many total ways there are to make a bbl crossed with the possible materials crossed with how picky we are about how much it is still speeding up…

If a bbl is going to speed up just 30 fps, versus 130 fps, then I guess we are going to wait a little longer for it to settle aren’t we? Some of us already know what a new bbl is going to use, and some bbls are complete strangers on a first date…

Some bbl manufacturing methods are going to yield a great match bbl but might take 100 rounds to settle. A different one might take more or less. Some folks never look at a chronograph and can’t hit the broad side of a barn, and everything in between….

How are we supposed to compare a hammer forged REM factory bbl to a cut rifled hand lapped Brux match bbl?

For many of us, the first hundred rounds pass fairly quickly between fire forming a few pieces of brass, boresighting, and just starting up the bbl.

If it is a close copy of the previous bbl, and we knew that one took 100 rounds to settle, then we generally take our time and get rolling with serious tests at about 90 or 100 and see if the velocity is still climbing and then decide if we should judge the bbl. Till then, we feed it the last know good load.

But if it is a completely unknown context, take your time and track it to see if it is still speeding up and also by how much. Then get to work tuning.

Some good quality match bbls take 100 rounds plus or minus to finish speeding up. Track enough new ones with a chronograph and you start to form your own experience.

Soon, there will be posts from folks who will deride the use of a chronograph. It is completely possible to develop a new bbl without a chronograph. For my money, it makes it clear when and why to bank on the load tuning. (I am not a BR shooter, but I do load development at the range). YMMV.

 

[INTJ]

What I have seen developing loads for customer rifles and my own is this. After 5 rounds most barrels will be stable for around 200 rounds. IF they are going to speed up it usually happens around 200 rounds.

Not all barrels speed up, and sometimes in overbore cartridges like the 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, or 300 RUM; the barrel will speed up sooner.

This is usually only a problem when someone wants to find a load and load up 200+ rounds of ammo. The best practice is to find the load, load up the minimum amount of ammo needed for the hunt or competition, then check the load after those rounds are consumed.

 

[Cloudchaser]

Thanks guys for the info.....I was thinking more along the lines of accuracy...I thought I heard somewhere that SS barrels took a bit more time to lap themselves by shooting and smooth out any rough spots or tool marks.

 

[Jennb]

I do a 30 - 40 round break in and then step right into it. I have won matches with barrels that have 50 rounds down the tube. If it speeds up then make the necessary changes and move on.

 

[Matt_3479]

I’ve had barrels speed up at 200-250 rounds and other barrels speed up roughly 80-120. I use the fiest 100 rounds to break in, clean, fire form brass, test basic components for possible winners, then start a pressure test, and check for nodes. Then start to fine tune after 100 rounds and once fire brass

 

[Djfergus]

With a quality hand lapped barrel, I don't use up components just for break in. I generally fire 3-4 rounds to foul the barrel. At around 10 rounds on the barrel, I will then start looking for a load. I will proceed to shoot with accuracy on virgin brass. Once the virgin brass has been fired, it won't take long to fine tune the load for the fired brass. Once that brass has been fired for the second time, more fine tuning can be made if necessary. It's easy to get caught up in burning up components & barrel life while waiting for and if a barrel will speed up. Sometimes they don't, sometimes it's 50-60 rounds and sometimes it's 100 or more.

 

[Sandstorm]

thinking more along the lines of accuracy

Out of my first 20 rounds there were three groups all touching...This using the load for my last barrel.
Id say at that point stop wasting components...fine tune and shoot a Match.
( 1.250 straight taper Brux 30 inch ) disclaimer